Paint rollers



June 13, 1961 H. c. DAVIS ETAL PAINT ROLLERS Filed Dec. 12, 1955 INVENTORS Howard C 00 W15 By Rich are 14/. [mi/er United States Patent 2,987,746 PAINT ROLLERS Howard C. Davis and Richard W. Entler, Columbus, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Wooster Brush Company, Wooster, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 12, 1955, Ser. No. 552,502 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-230) This invention relates to improvements in a roller construction for painting and like operations and more particularly a construction having a detachable cover sleeve adapted to roll paint on a wall or other fiat surface.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a roller construction with a resilient chucking means for gripping the cover sleeve.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a roller construction with two spaced apart heads rotatably journalled on a shaft and with one of the heads having a resilient chucking means for gripping a cover sleeve along a short axial length thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a roller construction having a sleeve centering head and another head axially spaced therefrom, with the other head aiding in the assembly and disassembly of the sleeve in the roller construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a roller construction having cover sleeve mounting heads for holding the cover sleeve in proper alignment and preventing wobble thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a roller construction characterized by its structural simplicity, inexpensive manufactining cost, compact design, ease of assembly and disassembly of its parts, operating efiiciency in performing its intended function, ease of use, strong and sturdy nature, minimum number of component parts, light weight, and totally enclosed design to make it tamper-proof and resist paint penetration.

Other features of this invention reside in the arrangement and design of the parts for carrying out their appropriate functions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description and the essential features will be set forth in the appended claim.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a partial top plan view of a paint roller with the roller ends in longitudinal section and the roller sleeve connecting these ends in a phantom;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the paint roller along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, the paint applying sleeve being shown in dot dash lines and parts radially inwardly of the split spring ring being omitted;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the chucking head at the left end in FIG. 1 being initially assembled along the direction of the arrow into the covering sleeve shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the gripping segments or elements and of the split spring ring for biasing them FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the paint roller shaft looking in the outward direction at the inner end of a modified form of chucking head adapted to be substituted inplace of the chucking head shown at the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through this the segments in assembled position and the spring omitted. I Before the roller construction here illustrated is specifi- V bore 22a rotatably journalling it on shaft 10a.

Patented June 13, 1961 "ice cally described, it is to be understood that the invention here involved is not limited to the structural details or arrangement of parts here shown since structures embodying the present invention may take various forms. It also is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for purposes of description and not of limitation since the scope of the present invention is denoted by the appended claim.

Those familiar with this art will recognize that the present invention may be applied in many ways, but it has been chosen to illustrate the same in connection with a paint roller for spreading paint by a rolling action over a surface, such as a room wall surface.

FIG. 1 discloses a roller construction for painting and other like operations. Rod 10, formed of any suitable material but preferably steel, is bent in the manner shown in FIG. 1 to form a handle portion 10b over which is secured a handle 11 formed of any suitable material such as wood and a shaft portion 10a extending at right angles to portion 10b. Rotatably and detachably mounted over this shaft 10a is a cylindrical sleeve or cover 14 preferably formed of layers of spirally wound cardboard 14a or other suitable material covered by a fabric 140 having a pile outer surface capable of absorbing paint and transferring it to a surface contacted by the roller. As the shaft 10a is moved by hand generally parallel to a surface to be painted, with the operator propelling it while gripping the handle 11, the roller construction is rotated and paint is spread over the surface by the rolling action of cylindrical sleeve 14 thereon.

Means is provided for detachably securing the sleeve 14 by its bore 14b and for rotatably mounting this sleeve on the shaft 10a while centering it with respect to the shaft. Two forms of the invention are disclosed, one in FIGS. l'4 and the other in FIGS. 5 and 6. In each, the cylindrical sleeve 14 is internally supported at one end by a short hold chucking head 20 or 120 and at the other end axially spaced therefrom by another head 22. Both heads are rotatably journalled on the shaft 10a to permit rotation of the roller sleeve 14 thereabout. The difference between the forms lies in the variations in construction of the chucking heads 20 and 120 and the shaft portions for mounting these heads.

Head 22 in both forms is free to rotate and be displaced longitudinally on the axle shaft 10a toward the left from the FIG. 1 position; Head 22, formed of molded nylon or plastic or of other suitable material, has a central A generally cylindrical periphery 22b is connected on the hub surrounding the bore 22a by a solid end wall extending outwardly to form a flange 220. This generally cylindrical periphery 22b may take the form of a smooth cylindrical peripheral surface or a plurality of arcuate portions mounted on the end wall and defining a generally cylindrical periphery. This cylindrical periphery 22b centers the sleeve bore 14b with respect to the shaft 10a as it detachably engages this bore. Flange 220 is adapted to engage in the assembled position shown in FIG. 1 the outer right end of the sleeve 14 remote from the head 20 and radially outwardly from the sleeve bore 14b for resisting axial relativemovement of the sleeve 14 to the right with respect to the head 22 beyond the FIG. 1 position. However, the sleeve 14 is still free to move to the left with respect to the head .22. Thus, any suitable means for resisting axial relative movement could be used inplaceof the flange 220, such as a suitable outwardly extending projection or a frictional fit between the head 22 and sleeve 14.

Head 20, being the first form shown in FIGS. 1-4, includes a carrier rotatably mounted on the shaft 10a, a

plurality of resiliently biased, sleeve bore gripping elements 36, and suitable resilient means, including spring 37, for providing the outward bias to these elements.

The carrier includes two identical retaining members 30 and 31 axially straddling the gripping elements and journalled respectively on shaft a by bores 30:: and 31a. Suitable stop shoulders are provided to prevent axial separating movement of these retaining members with these specifically taking the form in the present disclousre of the crimp 100 on the shaft 10a, washer 33 and detachable screw 34. These retaining members or closure caps are preferably formed of stamped sheet metal, molded plastic or other suitable material.

A plurality of resilient gripping elements 36, here shown as two in number in FIG. 4 but may be of any suitable number, are carried by the carrier, are disclosed herein as generally identical in shape and size, and are arranged closely side-by-side in generally circumferential formation. Each element has a sleeve bore gripping portion 360! movable generally radially inwardly and outwardly for movement between bore released and bore gripping position; is separate from the carrier; and is of arcuate form with its gripping portion 36a being of armate peripheral form in transverse sect-ion, of convex form in longitudinal section through the roller, and located axially between its ends so as to provide a generally annular periphery for gripping engagement with the sleeve bore 14b without materially deforming the circular cylindrical shape of the sleeve 14. These gripping elements 36, here shown as two opposed arcuate members, may be formed of any suitable material but preferably are sheet metal stampings or suitably formed plastic material.

FIG. 7 shows a modified form of gripping elements 36, interchangeable with elements 36 in FIG. 4 and of similar shape except for the addition of axially aligned slots 36s half way along their arcuate lengths forming weakened areas more deformable or resilient to permit better conformity with sleeve bore 14b.

A suitable resilient means is provided for biasing these gripping elements 36 in an outward direction and this takes the form in the present disclosure of a split spring ring 37 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 separate from the elements 36 and radially aligned with the gripping portion 36a while being located between the elements. This spring resiliently urges the gripping portions outwardly into the gripping position. The opposite ends of the spring are bent inwardly, as more clearly shown in FIG. 2, so that they will not interfere with the radial movement of the elements in any way.

Head 20 has structure providing a plurality of functions especially useful in performing its mode of operation. Each of the elements 36 has reduced diameter annular forming shoulders 36b, 36b on opposite sides of the gripping portion 36a, and each of the retaining members has an annular flange 30b or 31b straddling the gripping portion 36a and telescopically associated over its adjacent shoulder 36b which it faces. The dimensions of the shoulders and flanges and the resiliency of the component 7 parts are carefully selected to provide a multiplicity of functions.

First, when the sleeve 14 is disassembled from the head 20, as shown in FIG. 3, the outward movement of the elements 36 is restricted to prevent movement outwardly beyond a predetermined point when the head is released tfrom the sleeve bore and to apply initial load on the spring 37 to minimize the amount of element movement required to frictionally retain the sleeve bore. This is clearly shown in FIG. 3 wherein the elements 36 are in their most outward position. Second, the flanges 30b, 31b, and shoulders 36b permit relative movement during radial movement of the gripping portions 36:: so that the gripping portions will always be biased toward their outward position but may move inwardly to grip the sleeve bore in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Third, the flanges 30b and31b coacting with the shoulders 36b generally center the gripping elements 36 with respect to the axle 2,987,746 s V a 10a when the roller is in its assembled position shown in lustrated construction is the preferred construction.

Fourth, spring 37 also assists in holding the component parts of head 20 in assembled condition prior to and during assembly of the head 20 on the end of the shaft 10a.

It should be noted that both retaining members 30 and 31 are identical in construction and all gripping elements 36 are also identical in construction. This permits interchangeability of parts and economy in manufacture since dies for only one of each need be made.

The second form of chucking head, head 120, is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. Head includes a cup-shaped member forming integrally connected together a carrier having an end wall 130a rotatably mounted on the shaft 10a, a plurality of resilient gripping elements 136 arranged in generally circumferential formation and carried thereby with each element having a sleeve bore gripping portion 136a movable generally radially inwardly and outwardly between bore released and bore gripping positions, and a resilient means, including spring 137, for biasing these gripping portions 136a outwardly. This cupshaped member may be formed of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material having spring characteristics.

These gripping elements or fingers 136 extend axially along the shaft 10a in the inward direction of the sleeve cover 14 but may project outwardly with respect to the carrier 130 (toward the left in FIG. '6) instead of inwardly as shown, if so desired. The gripping elements 136 are formed by slits 132 in the peripheral wall of the cupshaped member, are arranged closely side by-side in circumferential formation with their gripping portions being of peripheral convex form in transverse section through the roller so as to provide a generally annular periphery adapted to grip the sleeve bore 14b without materially deforming the circular cylindrical shape of sleeve 14.

Resilient means is provided for resilientily urging the gripping portions 136a outwardly into the gripping position. This means includes a split spring ring 137 in 'FIGS. 5 and 6 separate from the gripping elements 136, radially aligned with the gripping portions 136a, and lo c ated between the elements near or at the distal ends thereof. Also, the integral construction between elements 136 and carrier 130 may provide part of the resiliency. The opposite ends of the spring 137 are bent inwardly so that they will not interfere with radial movement of the element, as clearly shown in FIG. 5. The distal ends of the elements have portions 136r and r136s bent inwardly toward the shaft 10a to retain the spring ring 137 and to avoid contact with the sleeve bore 14b, which contact might resist assembly or disassembly of the cover sleeve 14 over the head 120. Portions 136r are formed by bending inwardly the tip ends of the elements 136 while portions 136s are struck up from the elements 136 and bent inwardly around the spring;1;37. Another suitable structure would be provided by having the distal ends of the elements bent outwardly from and then inwardly toward the shaft to provide a retaining groove for the spring ring 137.

The heads 22, 20 and 120 may be suitably mounted on the shaft 10a in any suitable manner. Here, axial stop means are provided for preventing axial separating movement of the retaining members 30 and 31 of head 20, preventing axial movement in either direction of the head 20 or 120 on the shaft, and preventing axialmovement of head 22 farther away from the other head on theshaft 10a than an operative or final assembled position shown in.FIG. l permitting sleeve bore engagement by both of the heads on the shaft. In both forms of the device, the axial stop means for head 22 takes the form of a crimp 10g in FIG. 1 on shaft 10a outwardly from head 22. In both heads 20 and 120, the axial stop means includes spaced shoulders carried by the shaft a for preventing axial movement of the head in either direction and also in FIG. 1 for preventing the separating movement of the retaining members 30 and 31. In each, a crimp 100 on shaft 10a and a washer 33 or 133 form one of the shoulders fixed to the shaft while the other shoulder is detachably connected thereto and includes a screw 34 or 134 to permit disassembly of the head and the shaft 10a. The screw is threaded into a bore in a iournalling shaft portion 10s forming an integral part of shaft 101: and rotatably mounting thereon the head 20 or 120. In FIG. 1, the head of screw 34 bears directly against the outer end of retaining member 30. In FIG. 6, end wall 130a of the cup-shaped member has a sleeve-shaped bore 13% formed therein with its opening facing the screw 134. A sleeve bearing 139 is telescopically associated in this bore for journalling the head 120 for rotation on shaft portion 10s. This enclosed portion of the unit formed by bore 13% provides a journal bearing housing for inserting nylon or other suitable bearing material as bearing 139 to thus permit the head 120 to rotate on the axle shaft 10a.

Of course, other means may be used for preventing the longitudinal displacement of the head 20 or 120 besides a crimp and screw. For example; there may be used instead a spring fingered end cap, nut, ferrule, etc.

The disclosed construction makes assembly and disassembly of the sleeve 14 in the roller construction much simpler. During assembly, the sleeve 14 is telescoped over the outer head 20 or 120 onto the generally cylindrical periphery 22b of the other head and against the flange 22c; then, both the sleeve 14 and head 22 are moved together toward the right with the head 22 centering the right end of the sleeve 14 to permit easier movement over shaft 10a until the final assembled position is reached with the crimp 10g stopping further movement toward the right by the head 22. An alternative mode of assembly is to have the sleeve 14 telescoped over the head 20 or 120 while head 22 is held in its final position shown in FIG. 1 against the crimp 10g; then, the sleeve 14 is telescoped over the head 20 or 120 the full distance until it approaches the final position in FIG. 1 at which time it is telescoped over the cylindrical periphery 22b and against the flanged end 220 to reach the final assembly position. The flange 220 in either case limits the movement of sleeve 14 toward the right and establishes its engagement with the head 20 or 120.

In disassembly, the generally cylindrical periphery 22b keeps the right end of the sleeve 14 centered with respect to the shaft 10a to guide it during removal from shaft 10a. As an axial force is applied to the right end of head 22 in FIG. 1 to push it toward the left, flange 22c exerts an axial force on the sleeve 14 to telescope it over the head 20 or 120 to assist in the sleeve cover removal. Disassembly can take place in this manner be cause the head 22 is adapted to move longitudinally along shaft 10a toward the head 20 or 120.

Of course, when the cover sleeve 14 is telescoped over the elements, the spacing between them is slightly reduced to provide the frictional grip to the cover sleeve bore; when the cover sleeve 14 is removed the outside diameter of the gripping portion 36a or 136a is, of course, slightly larger than the interior diameter of the sleeve bore 14b so that a slight compression is induced to hold the sleeve in the assembled position.

It should be noted that in both forms of the device the rounded or beveled portions of the gripping elements permit the cover 14 to be easily slipped onto or ofl of the head 20 or 120. For example, note the tapered outer surfaces between the gripping portion 36a and shoulders 36b of FIG. 1 shown most effectively in FIG. 3. Note in FIG. 6 the rounded outer right ends of the gripping elements 136 and the diverging peripheral surfaces of elements 136 diverging from the carrier 130 at the left in FIG. 6 toward the right or distal ends of the elements.

These constructions have many advantages in addition to those already pointed out. The imperforate end wall construction of head 22, retaining member 30 and end wall 130a, each generally filling the sleeve bore 14b and located outwardly from gripping elements 36 or 136, generally protect the chucking members inside the sleeve 14 from the paint. Also, the springs 37 and 137 are protected by the gripping elements 36 and 136 as well as these end walls so as to provide a substantially tamperproof construction to protect them from deformation. Another advantage is that neither form of the device will force the roller sleeve cover 14 .out of round to effect adversely the application of paint because the gripping elements are arranged closely side-by-side in circumferential formation and exert a uniform pressure in the sleeve bore. Another advantage is the ease of cleaning the chucking head and the other head 22. Another advantage is the provision for a predetermined frictional gripping force for uniform retention of any detachable cover sleeve 14. Another advantage is the short axial length of the chucking head which provides a limited area for paint to freeze the detachable cover sleeve 14 to the chucking head by solidified paint so that the sleeve may be easily removed even when frozen. This advantage is obtained because the chucking head has to rotatably support only one end of the roller sleeve 14 while the other is rotatably supported by head 22.

Alternate constructions readily suggest themselves although the illustrated construction is preferred. The chucking heads 20 and will Work satisfactorily by retaining some of the advantages whether or not the head 22 is provided or is able to slide axially along the shaft 10a. For example, the chucking head may sup-. port the roller alone if it is of sufiicient axial length. Head 22 may be restricted to rotative movement on shaft 10a by the addition of another shoulder so as to prevent axial movement along the shaft. Also, head 22 may be reversed with respect to its opposite head on shaft 10a if flange 220, for example, is removed. Also, although spring biased gripping elements are disclosed herein, rubber could be used to frictionally grip the detachable cover instead. Also, head 22 may be used with other heads for centering and rotatably mounting sleeve 14 instead of chucking head 20 or 120.

Various changes in details and arrangement of parts can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a roller construction for painting and like operation, a shaft adapted to be moved by hand generally parallel to a surface to be painted so as to rotate a paint spreading cylindrical sleeve over said surface, means for detachably securing said sleeve by its bore and for rotatably centering said sleeve on said shaft, said means including two heads spaced axially apart on said shaft, one of said heads being rotatably journalled on said shaft and having resilient chucking means for gripping said sleeve bore, the other of said heads being rotatably journalled on said shaft and having a sleeve bore engageable generally cylindrical periphery for centering said sleeve on said shaft and an outwardly extending flange for engaging the outer end of said sleeve remote from said one head and radially outwardly from the sleeve bore for resisting axial relative movement therebetween in at least one direction, said one head including a carrier rotatably mounted on said shaft and a plurality of resilient gripping elements arranged in generally circumferential formation and carried thereby with each element having a sleeve bore gripping portion movable generally radially inwardly and outwardly between bore released and bore gripping positions, said elements being of identical shape and size and being arranged closely side-by-side in circumferential formation with each element being separate from said carrier and being of arcuate form with its gripping portion being of arcuate peripheral convex form and located axially between its ends so as to provide a genenallyuannular periphery for sleeve bore engagement without materially deforming the circular cylindrical sleeve shape, resilient means including a split spring ring separate from said elements and radially aligned with said gripping portions resiliently urging said gripping portions outwardly into said gripping position with the ends of said spring being bent inwardly so that they will not interfere with radial movement of said elements, said carrier including two identical retaining members axially straddling said elements and journalled on said shaft, each of said elements having reduced diameter annular forming end shoulders on axial opposite sides of said gripping portion, each of said retaining members having annular flanges straddling said elements with each flange facing and telescopically associated over the adjacent and shoulders 'of the elements, the dimensions of said shoulders and flanges and resiliency of the component parts being such to restrict outward movement of said elements beyond a predetermined point when released from the sleeve bore so as to apply initial load to said spring to minimize the amount of element movement required to irictionally retain said sleeve bore and being such to permit relative movement between said shoulders and flanges during radial movement of the gripping portions on said elements, the identical construction of both retaining members and all of said elements permitting interchangeablity and economy in manufacture, said other head "being mounted on said shaft for axial movement in one direction toward said one head to guide said sleeve during and to aid in sleeve re-' venting separating movement of said retaining members of said one head and preventing axial-movement in.

either direction ofsaid one head on said shaft and preventing axial movement of saidrother head farther away from said one head than a final assembled position permitting sleeve bore engagement by both of said heads,

said axial stop means including a crimp in said shaft outwardly of said other head and including spaced shoulders carried by said shaft for preventing axial move ment of said one'head and separating movement of saidretaining members, one of said shoulders being fixed to said shaft and the other being detachably connected thereto to permit disassembly of .said one head and said shaft, the outer retaining member having an imperforate end wall for generally filling'said sleeve bore outwardly from said elements, whereby said spring is protected from deformation andboth said spring and elements are gen-.

erally protected from the paint being applied, whereby said sleeve may be assembled in said roller construction by telescoping over said one head onto said other head cylindrical periphery against said flange and moved with said other head tosaid final assembled position.

References Cited in the file this patent UNITED STATES' PATENTS 

